Ranunculus plant named ‘ROCPINK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ROCPINK’ is disclosed, characterized by cold-hardy plants producing multiple pink flowers per stem. The new variety is a Ranunculus, useful as an ornamental plant or for cut flower production.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus cortusifolius x asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ROCPINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, John Fielding in London, United Kingdom at his home garden. The objective was to produce varieties that are garden hardy in zone 8, and suitable for cut flower or garden uses. The cross resulting in this new variety was made in April of 2004.

The seed parent is an unnamed, unpatented Ranunculus cortusifolius. The pollen parent is an unnamed, unpatented Ranunculus asiaticus. The new variety was discovered in April 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2004 crossing, in London, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by division of tubers in July 2009 at the inventor's home garden. The unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 10 successive generations. Date of first sale of the new cultivar was Oct. 1, 2018, in the Netherlands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ROCPINK’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ROCPINK’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   -   1. Garden hardy in USDA Zone 7 or 8, has been observed to         survive −15° Celsius in garden trials.     -   2. Can be used for cut flower or garden uses.     -   3. Cut flower will last in water for 12 to 14 days, with all         flowers opening.     -   4. Branched stems with multiple flowers per stem.     -   5. Medium pink flower color.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The seed parent is taller than the new variety.     -   2. Flowers of the new variety are pink, while the seed parent's         flowers are golden yellow.     -   3. The seed parent has 5 petals per flower, while the new         variety has typically 10-15 petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The pollen parent is shorter than the new variety.     -   2. The pollen parent is less winter hardy than the new variety.     -   3. The pollen parent has fewer flowers per stem than the new         variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ROCPINK’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Ranunculus ‘La Belle Pink’. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ROCPINK’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Vegetative carriage, foliage occurs much lower on plants of         the new variety.     -   2. Flower color of the new variety is a pink with more lavender         shades, flower color of this comparator is more salmon pink.     -   3. The new variety is tolerant of more cold temperatures than         this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately 1 year old, grown outdoors.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of several flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe 18-month-old ‘ROCPINK’ plants grown in a vented, unheated polytunnel in London, United Kingdom. No chemical treatments were performed. The growing temperature ranged from 5° C. to 25° C. during the day and from −5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus cortusifolius x asiaticus     ‘ROCPINK’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-15° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. -   Root description: Secondary roots grow from the tuber and are     fasciculate.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust, semi-erect. -   Height to top flower: Average 82 to 85 cm. -   Plant spread: Average 28 to 35 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium to strong. -   Branching characteristics: Branched panicle. -   Length of lateral branches: Average range 15 to 40 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Average range 0.4 to 0.6 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Glossy, slightly tomentose. -   Internode length: Very close, forming basal rosette. -   Strength of lateral branches: Medium to strong. -   Color of lateral branches: Between RHS Yellow-Green 144A and 144B. -   Aspect/angle of branches: 13-25° from vertical. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

-   Basal leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Young Leaf: Trifoliate. Mature Leaf Biternate.         -   Average length.—11 to 36 cm.         -   Average width.—11 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Young Leaf: Obovate. Mature Leaf:             Palmatifid to palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Leaves generally lobed, in 3 parts, each further             divided in 3 or more lobes. Lobes become more pronounced as             leaf ages.         -   Apex.—Young leaf: Rounded. Mature leaf: Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Attachment.—Base of the plant.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous to slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Leaf internode length.—Very close to form a basal rosette.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green NN137A to NN137B.             Young foliage under side: RHS Yellow-Green 147B. Mature             foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature foliage             under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous; plunging into the limb at the             upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C. Venation             color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.         -   Petiole.—Appearance: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: Average             range 15 to 28 cm. Diameter: Average range 0.3 to 0.5 cm.             Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green             144B. -   Leaf at the nodes of the stems:     -   -   Arrangement.—Biternate.         -   Average length.—19 cm.         -   Average width.—11 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which             is further divided in many deeply incised lobes.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Margin.—Entire to serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous to slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average 3 to 15 cm.         -   Color.—Foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Foliage             under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging into the limb at the             upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Venation             color under side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Petiole.—Appearance: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length:             Average 3 to 8 cm. Diameter: Average 0.3 to 0.5 cm.             Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: RHS Yellow-Green             144A.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Spring. -   Vase life (cut flower): 12 to 14 days in water. -   Flower longevity on plant: 3 to 5 days from bud to open flower. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Closed bud.—Shape: Broadly ovate with a sharp point. Length:             1.3 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Color: RHS             Yellow-Green 144B; 144A at apex.         -   Slightly open bud.—Shape: Broadly ovate. Length: 1.5 to             1.9 cm. Diameter: 1.5 to 1.9 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green             144C; 144B at apex. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Average 6.3 to 7.5 cm.         -   Height.—Average 4 to 4.5 cm. -   Corolla: Round, regular. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very             tight verticils. Size of petals variable, according to             position, decreasing from exterior towards the center.         -   Lobe length.—3.2 cm.         -   Lobe width.—3.4 cm.         -   Quantity.—10 to 15.         -   Texture.—Glossy.         -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.         -   Lobe shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Concave. Very mature flowers see the top 0.6 to 0.7             cm roll over on either side of the apex to give a “quilled”             effect.         -   Color when opening.—Upper surface: RHS Red 39C; between             Yellow 2C and 2D at base. Lower surface: RHS Red 38B;             Yellow-Green 145C at base.         -   Color fully opened.—Upper surface: Between RHS Red 39C and             39D, flecked with 43D, paler than Yellow-Green 145D at the             base. Lower surface: RHS Red 39C; Yellow-Green 145C at base;             between Red 38A and 38B at edges. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—4 to 5 which fall from mature flowers.         -   Shape.—Concave, incurved at apex.         -   Length.—1.8 to 2.4 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 to 0.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Lower surface: Tomentose. Upper surface: Tomentose.         -   Color.—Outer Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C; 145D near base.             Inner Surface: RHS Yellow-Green 145C; 145D near base. -   Peduncle: None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Average 13 to 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 0.3 to 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Orientation.—Upright, straight, rigid.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—Numerous, short and completely surround the             gynoecium.         -   Anther shape.—Slightly curved.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS Greyed-Orange 168A.         -   Pollen.—Sparse. -   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, locked together at the     center of the corolla, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.     -   -   Height.—0.6 cm.         -   Width.—0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Domed, ovate.         -   Pistil color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 187B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Typical for the species. Powdery mildew, leaf     miner and rodent damage have all been observed in trials. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: More cold-hardy compared to     other Ranunculus cultivars. Has survived −14° C. in trials in     well-drained soil. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ROCPINK’ as herein illustrated and described. 